Pentax MX body material

film-love · 01-01-2021, 09:41 AM

I managed to scuff my silver Pentax MX a little bit, right over the Asahi logo - nothing too bad, though I am pretty sensitive with this stuff, especially since the camera looked almost brand new prior to this.

I use the camera a lot, almost daily including winter time, so I guess it was bound to start showing some marks sooner or later.

Out of curiosity, what material is the MX - it seems to scuff/scratch more easily than most metal bodies. The bottom plate basically reveals every time it was moved around on the table. Brass with some sort of metallic coating on top?

The area under the scuff reveals a very shiny silver surface, which makes the scuff unnoticeable at some angles and -very- noticeable at other angles. I suppose trying to retouch it with anything would make matters worse...

**gofour3** · 01-01-2021, 10:15 AM

Originally posted by film-love

I managed to scuff my silver Pentax MX a little bit, right over the Asahi logo - nothing too bad, though I am pretty sensitive with this stuff, especially since the camera looked almost brand new prior to this.

I use the camera a lot, almost daily including winter time, so I guess it was bound to start showing some marks sooner or later.

Out of curiosity, what material is the MX - it seems to scuff/scratch more easily than most metal bodies. The bottom plate basically reveals every time it was moved around on the table. Brass with some sort of metallic coating on top?

The area under the scuff reveals a very shiny silver surface, which makes the scuff unnoticeable at some angles and -very- noticeable at other angles. I suppose trying to retouch it with anything would make matters worse...

I believe it's brass like the previous K Series bodies.

Phil.

film-love · 01-02-2021, 02:39 AM

Originally posted by gofour3

I believe it's brass like the previous K Series bodies.

Ok, thanks for the information Phil.

stevejo · 01-02-2021, 04:54 AM

You may have just polished the satin surface. Try giving it a rub with a pencil eraser (suggest trying on the base plate first just in case). Sometimes this can restore minor blemishes.

film-love · 01-02-2021, 10:38 AM

Originally posted by stevejo

You may have just polished the satin surface. Try giving it a rub with a pencil eraser (suggest trying on the base plate first just in case). Sometimes this can restore minor blemishes.

Polished - seems about right, yep. Good tip, thank you - though it seems that the 'polished' scuff (2mm-wide stroke on the Asahi text - very very shiny) doesn't seem to react to a pencil eraser.

Ideal thing would be to make it more 'matte' somehow, as the super bright shine really pushes through next to the satin/metallic finish.

A silver paint pen on the other hand, might make the surface appear uneven/bumpy.

**tonyzoc** · 01-02-2021, 10:42 AM

Originally posted by film-love

Polished - seems about right, yep. Good tip, thank you - though it seems that the 'polished' scuff (2mm-wide stroke on the Asahi text - very very shiny) doesn't seem to react to a pencil eraser.

Ideal thing would be to make it more 'matte' somehow, as the super bright shine really pushes through next to the satin/metallic finish.

A silver paint pen on the other hand, might make the surface appear uneven/bumpy.

Just go light...under the silver vernier (aluminum ?) Is brass.

film-love · 01-02-2021, 10:55 AM

Originally posted by tonyzoc

Just go light...under the silver vernier (aluminum ?) Is brass.

Ah, ok. If I read you correctly, I should probably not try to 'sand' down the layers any further, as brass would then have more of a golden appearance, popping out even more..

BryantCP · 01-02-2021, 12:26 PM

Originally posted by film-love

Ah, ok. If I read you correctly, I should probably not try to 'sand' down the layers any further, as brass would then have more of a golden appearance, popping out even more..

On my film cameras, Nikon FM & FE2, I always kept them in their form fitting ever-ready cases when using them. The bottom part which stayed on the cameras when using them protected them from most such scratches. I assume Pentax had such cases available although they are probably pretty rare by now.

film-love · 01-03-2021, 04:43 AM

Originally posted by BryantCP

On my film cameras, Nikon FM & FE2, I always kept them in their form fitting ever-ready cases when using them. The bottom part which stayed on the cameras when using them protected them from most such scratches. I assume Pentax had such cases available although they are probably pretty rare by now.

Would be good practice for sure, though personally I never quite got used to the bulky feeling of protective cases.

film-love · 01-03-2021, 11:31 PM

Reporting in case someone is wondering about the same thing:

I improved things a bit by "sanding" (more like micro-scratching) with a Mirka pad (similar to sandpaper). The scuff is less obvious now.

I had cut down the abrasive pad, bent it so I don't "sand" around the scuff and used the absolute minimum of force, more like tickled it. It was enough to remove most of the glossy shine and give it a more matte appearance.

Camera looks clean enough. Back to shooting.

(As for the cause of the scuff - I actually think it was caused by the grommets on my new leather strap, while putting the camera in my bag - so if you're wondering if the protective leather pads you sometimes see come with these, serve any purpose, they do...)

womble · 01-04-2021, 04:44 AM

Originally posted by film-love

Would be good practice for sure, though personally I never quite got used to the bulky feeling of protective cases.

Wasn't the old saying that pros had scruffy cameras and pristine everyready cases and amateurs had pristine cameras and scruffy cases? Something like that, anyway...

film-love · 01-04-2021, 06:36 AM

Originally posted by womble

Wasn't the old saying that pros had scruffy cameras and pristine everyready cases and amateurs had pristine cameras and scruffy cases? Something like that, anyway...

Haha, I like that

Peter Marsland · 02-25-2022, 03:23 PM

Does anybody know if the Super A has a metal body.

Peter Marsland · 02-25-2022, 03:27 PM

Originally posted by Peter Marsland

Does anybody know if the Super A has a metal body.

I'm trying to post a picture. This looks like brass to me, but I have been told that it is "metalised plastic". Does anybody have a definitive answer?

andrewd · 02-26-2022, 07:46 AM

Originally posted by BryantCP

On my film cameras, Nikon FM & FE2, I always kept them in their form fitting ever-ready cases when using them. The bottom part which stayed on the cameras when using them protected them from most such scratches. I assume Pentax had such cases available although they are probably pretty rare by now.

I like to use the Funper brand leather half case for my MX. These are readily available on Ebay. It is much better quality than the genuine Pentax cases for the M series which were made with fake leather that cracks with age. I find the slight increase in thickness makes the camera more comfortable to hold.

I suppose the pros never liked cases like these because it adds 30 seconds to the film load time.

01-01-2021, 09:41 AM	#1
film-love Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Finland Posts: 38	Pentax MX body material I managed to scuff my silver Pentax MX a little bit, right over the Asahi logo - nothing too bad, though I am pretty sensitive with this stuff, especially since the camera looked almost brand new prior to this. I use the camera a lot, almost daily including winter time, so I guess it was bound to start showing some marks sooner or later. Out of curiosity, what material is the MX - it seems to scuff/scratch more easily than most metal bodies. The bottom plate basically reveals every time it was moved around on the table. Brass with some sort of metallic coating on top? The area under the scuff reveals a very shiny silver surface, which makes the scuff unnoticeable at some angles and -very- noticeable at other angles. I suppose trying to retouch it with anything would make matters worse...

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Self isolation and photography...new subject material	lesmore49	General Talk	4	03-23-2020 09:52 AM
Best diffuser material for an LED lightbox?	clickity_click	Flashes, Lighting, and Studio	11	02-05-2020 09:36 AM
For Sale - Sold: Pentax related printed material - 1960s, 70s, 80s	Arjay Bee	Sold Items	2	10-21-2019 02:24 AM
Pentax K-7 Reading Material	jeffshaddix	Pentax DSLR Discussion	4	06-19-2010 09:59 PM
K-m in new body material	pspentax	Pentax News and Rumors	29	09-24-2008 08:10 PM

01-01-2021, 10:15 AM	#2
gofour3 Site Supporter Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Vancouver, Canada Posts: 8,090	Originally posted by film-love I managed to scuff my silver Pentax MX a little bit, right over the Asahi logo - nothing too bad, though I am pretty sensitive with this stuff, especially since the camera looked almost brand new prior to this. I use the camera a lot, almost daily including winter time, so I guess it was bound to start showing some marks sooner or later. Out of curiosity, what material is the MX - it seems to scuff/scratch more easily than most metal bodies. The bottom plate basically reveals every time it was moved around on the table. Brass with some sort of metallic coating on top? The area under the scuff reveals a very shiny silver surface, which makes the scuff unnoticeable at some angles and -very- noticeable at other angles. I suppose trying to retouch it with anything would make matters worse... I believe it's brass like the previous K Series bodies. Phil.

01-02-2021, 02:39 AM	#3
film-love Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Finland Posts: 38 Original Poster	Originally posted by gofour3 I believe it's brass like the previous K Series bodies. Ok, thanks for the information Phil.

01-02-2021, 04:54 AM	#4
stevejo Pentaxian Join Date: Nov 2020 Location: Worcestershire, UK Photos: Albums Posts: 527	You may have just polished the satin surface. Try giving it a rub with a pencil eraser (suggest trying on the base plate first just in case). Sometimes this can restore minor blemishes.

01-02-2021, 10:38 AM	#5
film-love Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Finland Posts: 38 Original Poster	Originally posted by stevejo You may have just polished the satin surface. Try giving it a rub with a pencil eraser (suggest trying on the base plate first just in case). Sometimes this can restore minor blemishes. Polished - seems about right, yep. Good tip, thank you - though it seems that the 'polished' scuff (2mm-wide stroke on the Asahi text - very very shiny) doesn't seem to react to a pencil eraser. Ideal thing would be to make it more 'matte' somehow, as the super bright shine really pushes through next to the satin/metallic finish. A silver paint pen on the other hand, might make the surface appear uneven/bumpy.

01-02-2021, 10:42 AM	#6
tonyzoc Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Jul 2018 Posts: 992	Originally posted by film-love Polished - seems about right, yep. Good tip, thank you - though it seems that the 'polished' scuff (2mm-wide stroke on the Asahi text - very very shiny) doesn't seem to react to a pencil eraser. Ideal thing would be to make it more 'matte' somehow, as the super bright shine really pushes through next to the satin/metallic finish. A silver paint pen on the other hand, might make the surface appear uneven/bumpy. Just go light...under the silver vernier (aluminum ?) Is brass.

01-02-2021, 10:55 AM	#7
film-love Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Finland Posts: 38 Original Poster	Originally posted by tonyzoc Just go light...under the silver vernier (aluminum ?) Is brass. Ah, ok. If I read you correctly, I should probably not try to 'sand' down the layers any further, as brass would then have more of a golden appearance, popping out even more..

01-02-2021, 12:26 PM	#8
BryantCP Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Indianapolis, IN USA Posts: 134	Originally posted by film-love Ah, ok. If I read you correctly, I should probably not try to 'sand' down the layers any further, as brass would then have more of a golden appearance, popping out even more.. On my film cameras, Nikon FM & FE2, I always kept them in their form fitting ever-ready cases when using them. The bottom part which stayed on the cameras when using them protected them from most such scratches. I assume Pentax had such cases available although they are probably pretty rare by now.

01-03-2021, 04:43 AM	#9
film-love Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Finland Posts: 38 Original Poster	Originally posted by BryantCP On my film cameras, Nikon FM & FE2, I always kept them in their form fitting ever-ready cases when using them. The bottom part which stayed on the cameras when using them protected them from most such scratches. I assume Pentax had such cases available although they are probably pretty rare by now. Would be good practice for sure, though personally I never quite got used to the bulky feeling of protective cases.

01-03-2021, 11:31 PM	#10
film-love Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Finland Posts: 38 Original Poster	Reporting in case someone is wondering about the same thing: I improved things a bit by "sanding" (more like micro-scratching) with a Mirka pad (similar to sandpaper). The scuff is less obvious now. I had cut down the abrasive pad, bent it so I don't "sand" around the scuff and used the absolute minimum of force, more like tickled it. It was enough to remove most of the glossy shine and give it a more matte appearance. Camera looks clean enough. Back to shooting. (As for the cause of the scuff - I actually think it was caused by the grommets on my new leather strap, while putting the camera in my bag - so if you're wondering if the protective leather pads you sometimes see come with these, serve any purpose, they do...)

01-04-2021, 04:44 AM	#11
womble Pentaxian Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Hertfordshire Photos: Gallery Posts: 4,324	Originally posted by film-love Would be good practice for sure, though personally I never quite got used to the bulky feeling of protective cases. Wasn't the old saying that pros had scruffy cameras and pristine everyready cases and amateurs had pristine cameras and scruffy cases? Something like that, anyway...

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

01-04-2021, 06:36 AM	#12
film-love Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Finland Posts: 38 Original Poster	Originally posted by womble Wasn't the old saying that pros had scruffy cameras and pristine everyready cases and amateurs had pristine cameras and scruffy cases? Something like that, anyway... Haha, I like that

02-25-2022, 03:23 PM	#13
Peter Marsland Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2018 Posts: 32	Does anybody know if the Super A has a metal body.

02-26-2022, 07:46 AM	#15
andrewd Senior Member Join Date: May 2021 Posts: 238	Originally posted by BryantCP On my film cameras, Nikon FM & FE2, I always kept them in their form fitting ever-ready cases when using them. The bottom part which stayed on the cameras when using them protected them from most such scratches. I assume Pentax had such cases available although they are probably pretty rare by now. I like to use the Funper brand leather half case for my MX. These are readily available on Ebay. It is much better quality than the genuine Pentax cases for the M series which were made with fake leather that cracks with age. I find the slight increase in thickness makes the camera more comfortable to hold. I suppose the pros never liked cases like these because it adds 30 seconds to the film load time.